California workers compensation insurance benefits cover six basic areas including medical care, permanent disability benefits, temporary disability benefits, supplemental job displacement benefits or vocational retraining or rehabilitation and, where applicable, death benefits.

Unlike in most cases that involved claiming compensation in California the state operates a ‘no fault’ system.  This means that in the majority of cases the injured worker does not have to prove that it was someone else’s fault that he was injured.  The benefits will be paid regardless of who was to blame.

It is a strength of the system that most workers compensation claims are resolved without any issues or problem.  Unfortunately of course disputes can happen and these usually revolve around how much the injured worker should receive in benefits or the extend of the workers injuries.

But let’s have a look at the different benefits that make up a California workers compensation insurance benefits.  As we mentioned above there are six component parts to the compensation payouts:

1) Medical Care.

Any injuries or illnesses caused at work could result in the injured worker having to undergo medical care.  This is paid for by the employer.

2) Permanent Disability Benefits.

Unfortunately some injuries can result in permanent injury in which case these payments are made.

3) Temporary Disability Benefits.

If the injured employee is forced to miss work through an injury sustained whilst at work these benefits are paid until recovery.

4) Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits.

If an injured worker is unable to return to work for his employer these benefits enable him to retrain for different employment. NB; this only applies to those injured after 2004.

5) Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits.

Only for those injured at work before 2004 and mostly involves counselling to try and get the worker back into employment.  In certain circumstances vocational rehabilitation benefits can be used for retraining.

6) Death Benefits.

If a work accident results in the death of the worker then California workers compensation insurance payments will be made to his dependents.